Having done an intense 3 day photo and
measuring study of every facet of Midford, I firmly believe this is room for a
single track railway and cyclepath from north of Tucking Mill viaduct to Wellow
Trekking Centre, excepting a diversion for cyclists before Midford goods yard,
over Long Arch bridge and along Midford platform. Hope and Anchor patrons can
park on the site of Midford B goods yard.
The formation between Long Arch bridge
south portal cutting slope and Midford platform is 25 feet wide minimum, 15 feet
for railway and 10 for slewed to edge of drop-off cycle path, with appropriate
fencing and masonry.
Pway materials (30 feet flat bottom,
sleepers and ballast) could be delivered to “A” goods yard and the crane /
loading gauge, weighbridge and huts put back with 2 box
vans.
Thanks to Nick Howes for this.
4 comments:
Does the signal box need to be in its original location? Could it go on the site of the parcels office, leaving the Hope and Anchor car park free for cars?
The cycle route could then be diverted at Midford goods yard to go over Long Arch Bridge then along Tucking Mill Lane before going down Old Midford Road and rejoining the railway via the Hope car park, via a new gate in the stone wall.
Sensible suggestion -I know that the 'box is iconic in its positioning but could this be a possibility to make the system more viable?
In the not too distant future the car park at the Hope and Anchor will become (as will car parks everywhere) both an anachronism and a valuable waste of unused space, so I suspect that, even if it takes a move, the signalbox will eventually be back where it belongs, but there's certainly not the purism or dogmatism within the New S&D not to look at alternatives, no matter how temporary!
I would imagine that the Hope car-park would become a pick-up and set-down point for goods delivered by and for the train. If we keep it, then in 20 years, you could see electric vehicles, and pony and traps waiting here.
Putting the signal box on the platform also keeps the owner of the Hope happy and on-side. As a temporary measure, we could run the rails through the existing parking spaces as an occasional-use level-crossing, in a similar way to the spaces outside Sherringham railway station.
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